Day 8, Tremendous Headache

[TakingAction]

Hello all.  I myself have been clean for over a month.  A friend of mine took the plunge eight days ago and has been feeling pretty good.  She is coming off of oxy.  Her detox has been pretty mild.  Today she has the absolute worst headache she has ever had.  Though she does not have a fever.  She is considering a trip to the ER.  Does anyone know if this detox symptom can arise so late in the process?  I am pretty well versed, but cannot understand why tylenol has not even touched her misery.  It's that bad.  She does not have insurance, so I was hoping to get some help from all my peeps here!  Thanks-- Matt

[Astray]

Its not at all unusual to get headaches (thats probably like calling getting your leg chewed off by a shark "leg ache" if my experience is anything to go by) then or even later. It will probably pass in a few hours.

It could be unrelated, its not likely but possible so I'm not going to say ER should be ruled out if she feels thats the thing to do. WD multiples any pain we might have felt, she may just have been due a normal headache, its just been ramped up to horror levels due to the WD. Can't give a definate answer, hope this vague ramble is slightly more useful than not having posted at all ...

[mpace6983]

Ive never heard of just horrible headaches as a withdrawel symptom. It sounds like she may be having a bad migraine,if it is the pain is being caused from the blood veins that supply blood to the brain being constricted. er can give her some stuff called ergodantrin to dilaite the veins. If it doesn't stop I would for sure take her to hospital for MRI just to be sure she doesnt have a blood clot or something. at least call er and ask what to do. GOOOD LUCK

[TakingAction]

Thanks.  Not a vague ramble at all.

She says its been building for two days.  But no other symptoms.  My instinct is to say that it would just pass.  But I did not have any issues like this after a few days of detox.  I am really worried.  I am going to give it a few hours and if its not better, then we are gonna have to go to the er.

[TakingAction]

No history of migraines.  No history of anything other than a few months of oxy use.  Thanks for quick reply all.  Really helpful.

[avisg]

headaches,,Sure can be a wd symptom it is one of the worst I get .It may be a migranie however it may not be. The good thing is there are many many meds out there for headaches that are not opeates .Just let you doctor NO opeates they can get it under control.

[Holliee]

OC use to give me awful headaches when I woke up in the morning before I did one so it could very well be still from here w/d and getting all out of her system.. Best of luck reach of stars

[bmdad]

Once when I went through withdrawals I had one of the worst headaches I had ever had. It was one of those that was kind of behind my eye if you know what I mean. This happened about 12 days after my last pill. I had never suffered from migraines or headaches in general. It lasted about 15 hours and then went away. Nothing I took even touched it. I didn't take any kind of opiate, just motrin, excedrin, etc. I'm not saying don't go to the er but just wanted to let you know I experienced the same thing. Maybe have her try a ice pack on her head and lay in the dark with come relaxing music. That seemed to help mine a bit. Just be sure to keep an eye on her and watch for anything else just to be safe. I hope and pray everything turns out ok because I know how painful it can be. She's lucky to have you there helping her out.

[TakingAction]

Thanks so much for the advice.  We are not really "friends" but rather she was inspired by my success (thus far) and took the plunge.  Kind of awkward to be so involved with her now that I am no longer using, but I knew that her crew was not going to support her.

Her older brother stepped in and took her to the er.  It would bet this is something more than detox, but maybe triggered by it.  She was writhing in pain.  Really freaked me out.  I'll let you all know what's the deal.  

[Astray]

I hope she is OK. I'd still say this is WD, writhing in pain is well within the sort of thing I would expect.

Then again it does no harm at all to be safe. Please let us know shes OK when you know more, if nothing else, if I was wrong, to prevent bad advice being given out next time this comes up.

[salsinator]

Sorry that the headache did not go away Matt. I had headaches daily at about the same time for weeks after detox. Keep us posted on her progress and congratulate her on her clean time.